The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-09-22
BILLY'S RELAPSE.

DILL / y hIIAfNI,
Two little girls stood at the foot of the
stairs leading to the elevated railway
station at Canal street at o'clock P. NJ.
They were dressed exactly alike in white
dresses, with blue sashcs tied around
their waists. They were waiting fol
papa. Train after train stopped at the
station and steady stream of home.
ward bound feet came pattcring down
the stairs. A big, portly man, who had
stopped at the station to light a cigar,
looked at the children-for they were
very winsome and said:
"Are you waiting for somebody, little
girls9"
"Yes, sir" replied the eldest eagerly.
'Me an Beulah is waiting for papa. HI
always comes at o'clock. We come tc
meet him every night, and"
"He's going to bring me gra' big
peach an two Jackson balls, amt he
Hattie9" interrupted the smallest child,
her blue eyes opening and her lips part
ing with pleasureable anticipation
"Maybe he failed off the big bridge
Did hea"
The golden head began to droop and
the little lips to tremble. The big man
smiled and said:
ooh, no, guess not. He'll be alons
very soon." Then he took from hi!
pocket handful of loose change, gave
the children each a cent, lifted then
successively to level with his bearded
chin, and kissed them. Then he re-
sumed his cigar and his homeward way
The clock in jewelry store near by
licked off fifteen more weary minutes
but the familiar face came not. A bare
headed woman ran quickly around th'
corner.
"Hasn't your father come yet girls7'
said she cautiously.
Nom, he amt. En- hain't got m,
peach" replied Beulah.
"Well, never mind. Perhaps he'll
come on the horse cars"
With many lingering looks at the rail
way station the children were led away III
the street. The teapot was simmcrct
on the oil stove and the supper tabl
was waiting when they arrived at tn
fiat. Hunger made the children forge
the absent father for the time. Beulal
was placed in the high chair and Mrs
Rogers proceeded to cut the home mad
'oaf.
81 want peaches first" said Beulal
impatiently.
"No, no, my child. Bread and mill
comes first, and peaches last" said tn
mother.
II don't like bread and milk; it
nasty" said the child, drumming i'm
patiently on her plate with spoon.
81 shall have to put my little girl
bed without her supper if she does no
behave herself"
Bculah sulkcd awhile. Then evidcntl
making up her mind to got through
disagreeable job quickly, she stoppc'
chewing on her thumb and began shov
cling the bread and milk so rapidly int
her mouth that she began to choke
Mrs. Rogers slapped her on the back be
tween the shoulders and piece of crus
flew out of the child's mouth half wa,
across the room. The absence of tn
father was forgotten in the cxctemen
of the moment. Bculah was snatche
from her chair in twinkling and prcsse
to her mothers breast. When the dan
ger was over and the clouds were clear.
ing away Beulah stammered out betwce
her staccato sobs:
"Ma-ma-I-I-I-w - want nm
peachesw
Beulah was ladled out larger shar
of the peaches than she was entitled tc
but before she had eaten half the fru
her head began to droop, like violet a
sunset. Hattie undrcsscd herself an
put on her nightgown, of which achieve
ment she was very proud, while Beula
lay in sorrows haven and was rocked int
dreamland, while Mrs. Rogers sang
little song, keeping time with the swim
of the rocking chair, to the effect thi
Mr.. Rogers was shaking dreamlan
tree. Even while. she sang Mrs. Rogcl
wondered drearily whether her husban
was not engaged in some more importar
business. Perhaps he had been run ov,
by the cars, perhaps he had been SUI
struck. But then, she thought, VIII
should I worry3 He has been d.
tanned at the store, most likel
and will be home in little whil
Despite her attempt at cheerfulne
Mrs. Rogers trembled as she tucked IL
blankets around her children, and tea
drop fell upon Beulah's rounded cheel
which made the child stir uncasily. tt
teapot was pouring out steaming pr
test against being left so long on Il
stove when Mrs. Rogers returned to Il
kitchen, so she took the pot off the stow
After the dirty dishes had been washe
Mrs. Rogers set the table for two, cut
some more peaches, and began her viz
at the window waiting for her husban
She had often told him, jokingly, tn
she could hear his footsteps two bloc
away and he had made laughing denis